Lens-grinding machine.



W. K. ROGERS.

LENS GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 191a. RENEWED FEB. 10,1914.

Patented May 25, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATEN Fauna.

WALTER K. ROGERS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO THE ROGERS AUTOMATIC LENS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LENS-GRINDING MACHINE.

Application filed June 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER K. Rooms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lens-Grinding Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others-skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for grinding optical lenses, and it has particular reference to certain improved details of construction found to be essential to the operation of a machine intended for a like purpose for which I was granted Letters Patent of the United States, dated September 10, 1912, Patent N 0. 1,037,992.

In the machine which forms the subject of this application I provide improved means for transmitting rotary movement to the lens block spindle and the tool spindle through the agency of spiral gears, whereby all lost motion is eliminated; improved means for subjecting the lens block to tension' in the direction of the grinding tool, with means for increasing or diminishing the tension; improved means for adjusting the lens block relative to the grinding tool; and improved means forvarying the swinging movementof the jointed spmdle carrying the lens block.

In carrying out my invention I employ the novel combination, arrangement and details of construction hereinafter shown, de scribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings .Figure 1 is a front view of a lens: grinding machine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, the same being partly in section; Fig.3 is a plan view of the double eccentricwhich I'employ to dle; and Fig. 4 is a sectional'elevation of the doubleeccentric.

Referring in detail to the parts-4 indicates a cast frame having the box-like base the vertical standard 3 and the laterally extending arm 4, all adapted for supporting the various arts of the machine. 5 indicates the mam driving shaft mounted to extendverticall through the standard 3 of the frame, an at its upper end is a driving pulley 6 adapted to be connected with any Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

1913, Serial No. 772,573. Renewed February 10, 1914. Serial No. 811.92%.

suitable power, the pulley being coupled base and the same is connected with the driving shaft by spiral gears 12 and 13.

14 is a vertical tool spindle mountedin suitable bearings in the base and supported in a vertical direction upon an antifriction bearing 16. Tool spindle 14 has driven connection with the lower counter shaft 9 through spiral gears 17 and 18. In like manner there is an upper counter shaft 19 mounted in bearings 20 and 21 upon the laterally extending arm-4 and'vhaving driven connection, with the main shaft through spiral gears 22 and 23.

24 indicates the lens block spindle mounted to slide vertically in the direction of its axis of rotation in bearings at the outer end of the arm 4 of the frame, 25 being a spiral gear upon the counter shaft 19 meshing with a spiral gear 26 adapted to drive the spindle 24, thelatter being connected with the gear 26 by a feather or other suitable means to permit the spindle to slide freely-through the gear 26 when raised or lowered by a lever 'dle 24.

30 is a" spiral compression spring surrounding the spindle 24 and seated at itsv upper end against the outer end of the arm 4, the lower end of the spring pressing against a ring 31 adapted to serve as a raceway for balls 32, 33 being a ring serving as thelower raceway for the balls, and 34 is an adjustable collar carried 'upon the spindle 24 and adapted to adjust the tension of the spring 30, T

35 1s a jointed swinging extension of the spindle 24, being connected therewith by a universal couplin 36, 37 a sleeve or bearing havin' free slidlng movement along the jointe spindle 35, 38 a chuck at the lowerend of-the spindle 35, 39 a driving pin held in 'the chuck and having universal connection with the lens block 40, the latter having thelens blank firmly cemented to its face,

the blank being maintained in contact with 41 is-a toggle having jointed connection with the sleeve 37 at 42,and the inner end of the toggle is adjustably connected by means of a screw coupling 43 with a sliding shaft 44 mounted to slide in a guide or lateral extension 45integral with the frame,

and 46 is'an eccentric strap connected with I and the same is supported upon an elevated shelf 52 upon the frame and has a vertical spindle 53 extending through the top, the spindle carrying a paddle to agitate the solution in the tank, rotation being imparted to the spindle 53 by a pulley 54, driven by a belt operating the main shaft.

56 is a tube adapted to conduct the abrasive solution to the face of the grinding tool adjacent to the lens block, the supply of abrasive material being controlled by a valve 57. As the abrasive material escapes from the periphery of the grinding tool it is received by a pan 58 having a raised portion 59 in its bottom surrounding the tool spindle.

In assembling the machine the spindle which actuates the lens block is off-set as shown, being mounted out of. alinement with the tool spindle. Power being applied to the machine, the toolspindle and the spindle carrying the lens block will both rotate in the same direction and at the same rate of over a pulley 55 fixed upon speed, the spiral gears being proportioned properly. As it is often desirable to vary the stroke or swingin movement of the jointed lower portion of the lens block spindle, this is accomplished by adjusting the outer eccentric upon the inner eccentric, which operation varies at will the stroke of the sliding'shaft connecting with the lens block spindle. Thus the movement of the lens block in a radial direction over the face of the grinding tool may be varied from nothing to a maximum by adjusting the outer eccentric upon the inner one.

What I claim is In a lens grinding machine, the combination of a vertical main driving shaft, upper and lower horizontal counter shafts, a jointed lens block spindle slidable longitudinally, a coiled springabout the lens block spindle adapted to subject the same to tension, a tool spindle, spiral gearing to transmit motion from the main driving shaft to the tool spindle and also the lens block spindle, a sliding shaft operating transverse to the lens block spindle, a sliding sleeve upon the lens block spindle, an adjustable connection between the sleeve and the sliding shaft, an inner eccentric fixed upon the main driving shaft, an outer eccentric adjustable upon the fixed inner eccentric, and an eccentric strap mounted upon the outer eccentric and connecting with the sliding shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

WALTER K. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

K. K. EARHART, CARL H. KELLER. 

